Tim Murtagh calls the tune as Somerset suffer against Middlesex

Somerset (152 & 112-5 f/o) trail Middlesex (347) by 83 runs

Unplayable: Tim Murtagh ripped through Somerset's top-order batsmen twice to put Middlesex within sight of the lead in the county championshipPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Richard Edwards, at Taunton

10:16PM BST 16 May 2013

As play started yesterday, Taunton’s military heroes paraded past the gates of the County Ground and through a town swelled with pride.

Throughout the rest of the day, Somerset’s batsmen, with rather less pomp and ceremony, continued the procession. One by one – and 15 times altogether – they marched back and forth to the pavilion, tails between their legs, as a relentless Middlesex side stole the glory.

Tim Murtagh, one of the most underrated of the visitors’ many bowling talents and the leading wicket-taker in the country, was the hero.

His impeccable line and length was too good for a Somerset batting line-up which lacked confidence and at times appeared to be offering catching practice to the slips.

Having torn through the top order before and after lunch, Murtagh did so again after tea once Middlesex had enforced the follow on, and he closed the day with superb match figures of eight for 46. “It is probably the best day in my career," he said afterwards.

Marcus Trescothick, Arul Suppiah, Alviro Petersen, James Hildreth and Lewis Gregory were all twice out for little more than 100 runs within four hours – the latter two with carbon-copy dismissals at slip and leg before.

Jos Buttler and Peter Trego finally offered some resistance with an unbeaten 77-run partnership in the late evening sun, but by the close, Somerset were still 83 runs adrift of making Middlesex bat again.

The visitors will thoroughly deserve to lead the Championship if they wrap up the win today – and on this form will be hard to topple from the top spot. Somerset will be hoping this is their nadir.

Murtagh grabbed the limelight from the start. His blade-flashing, last-wicket stand with Tom Smith allowing Middlesex to add 54 to their overnight score.

The only disappointment was for Neil Dexter, whose measured innings ended with a rare flash of extravagance and he was caught hooking on 82. Jamie Overton took the final pair of wickets to finish with figures of six for 95.

That was the hosts' high point. Trescothick swiftly disappeared when Murtagh drew him into edging behind. South African international Alviro Petersen followed first ball and the first innings was over by tea. The chaos continued in the last session.

Divots peppered the pitch and offered something for the bowlers to aim at, but no one was blaming it for Somerset’s dismal batting.

As Trego said afterwards: “They bowled well and we batted poorly, it’s as simple as that. We are in a poor position but from here it’s just about fighting and trying to compete.”